MSU-Northern Skylights volleyball finished (12-14) overall last season and fifth in the Frontier Conference, but was able to add signature wins to an up-and-down 2023. For the first time in the Jerry Wagner era for Northern, the team is experienced. Entering year six at his alma mater, Wagner returns most of the roster from last season and recruited to the team’s weaknesses, adding three new players to fill voids.
This season, the team was picked to finish last in the Frontier Conference preseason poll, but Wagner spoke at the annual Frontier Conference volleyball media day about the roster makeup of his team and how the blend will make for a dangerous combination.
“(I have) 10 veteran players and in my recruiting class of three players, I added a veteran player and one junior college player, so we have a lot of experience,” Wagner said. “I’ve got all kinds of all-conference players over the years and I have five of those types of players on this team.”
Just like last season, this year will be a tough test early for Skylights volleyball, just the way coach Wagner like it. He went into depth about the outlook as his team battles in non-conference before Frontier play starts in the middle of September.
“Non-conference matchups that will prepare us for the season, it would be our entire preseason leading up to conference,” Wagner said. “These teams that we’re competing against have either been conference champions or they’ve been in the national tournament in recent history and they’re deep again this year.”
“The Big Sky Conference Challenge, every one of those teams is on the map every year,” Wagner continued.
The Big Sky Challenge will feature all the Frontier Conference teams except Montana Western and will get going with a multitude of games in which the Skylights will compete in Butte. The first will be against Embry-Riddle (Arizona) and is scheduled for 4pm on Thursday. The full list of Skylights opponents for the Big Sky Challenge is available on in the sports section under “Scoreboard!“
